Bible Study Notes for Lord’s Day,
July 12, 2009
Galatians 6:6-10
Sowing and Reaping
6 Let him who is taught the Word share in all good things with him
who teaches..
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows,
that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the
flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the
Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while
doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially
to those who are of the household of faith.
Introduction Galatians - for your salvation, trust the Lord, not
your own works. In daily life, trust the Lord. Then He will give
you the guidance, love and the power you need to live a good life
in this world.
Ch 6 - practical advice for living.
1. How to help someone who has fallen into sin be restored
2. How to take responsibility for your own life, attain freedom
3. Sowing and Reaping
I. The Principles of Sowing and Reaping
A. In nature
B. Man sows, God ensures the harvest v7
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows,
that he will also reap.
C. We reap what we sow
1. We need to sow - no seed, no harvest
2. We need to sow the right seeds
D. We reap more than we sow - kernel, ears, wind, whirlwind
Luke 6:38
38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down,
shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For
with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to
you.”
E. Obstacles to sowing
1. Deception v7
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows,
that he will also reap.
We can be deceived into thinking we can reap a good harvest without
sowing.
We can be deceived into thinking we can sow bad things and reap
good things.
2. Thinking God isn’t paying attention v7
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows,
that he will also reap.
He watches what is sown, and ensures a harvest of the same. He will
not be mocked. The law of sowing and reaping is set in stone. You
cannot reap a financial blessing unless you give.
Malachi 3
8 “ Will a man rob God?
Yet you have robbed Me!
But you say,
‘ In what way have we robbed You?’
In tithes and offerings.
9 You are cursed with a curse,
For you have robbed Me,
Even this whole nation.
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the LORD of hosts,
“ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it..
11 “ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
Says the LORD of hosts;
12 And all nations will call you blessed,
For you will be a delightful land,”
Says the LORD of hosts.
What is this saying? God is paying attention, and ensures the harvest.
3. Losing strength v9
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season
we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
What happens if a farmer falls ill during planting time, and doesn’t
have the strength to sow? There will be no harvest. What happens
if God tells us there is an opportunity to sow, and we feel we are
not able? We miss out on the harvest, have to wait till next time.
4. Losing hope v9
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season
we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Have you ever done something good, and there was no result, no reward,
not even noticed? 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good,
for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
5. Ignorance v10
10 Therefore, as we have time/opportunity, let us do good to all,
especially to those who are of the household of faith..
Time/opportunity = kairos, not chronos. Now is the time, this is
our chance, a window of opportunity, make hay while the sun shines,
strike while the iron is hot.
If we want to reap a good harvest, we cannot be ignorant of opportunities
to sow. The wise and successful sower is aware of the times and
seasons for planting the seed for the optimal harvest. Pay attention
to opportunites to do good.
10 Therefore, as we have time/opportunity, let us do good to all,
especially to those who are of the household of faith.
These are the principles of sowing and reaping. We see it in nature,
we know that God oversees it and ensures it. We reap what we sow,
we reap more than we sow, and there are obstacles - deception, thinking
God isn’t watching, thinking we can sow bad things and reap
good things, weariness, losing heart, and not paying attention for
opportunities to sow.
II. Various Applications of Sowing and Reaping
A. Sowing into the Ministry of the Word v6
6 Let him who is taught the Word share in all good things with him
who teaches.
1. Why do we share with our teachers?
a. Appreciation - high value of the Word, helping us understand
what God is saying to us.
b. Provide time for study and ministry
2. What is shared? All good things.
B. Sowing to the Spirit, not the Flesh v8
8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption,
but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting
life.
1. Flesh and Spirit Gal 5
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred,
contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions,
dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries,
and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told
you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit
the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control.
2. How do we sow to flesh or spirit? Sowing means taking steps that
lead to flesh or spirit, things that encourage flesh or spirit,
the cause that produces the effect of life in the flesh or life
in the spirit.
a. To the flesh? It begins in the mind. Thoughts are ungodly, apart
from God, no time with God, no faith in God, not trusting Him to
meet your needs, focused on the ways, things of the world.
Leads to corruption - life that is rotting, decaying, falling apart,
unsound. Even goes as far as total destruction.
b. To the Spirit? It begins in your mind. Are my thoughts in the
context of my relationship with Christ? Am I living moment by moment
and day by day in fellowship with Him?
Through the course of the day, am I thinking the thoughts of Christ,
living and acting in the context of Him? Am I spending time abiding,
learning, worshipping, fellowshipping with God? Am I asking to be
filled with the Holy Spirit?
If I am, I am sowing to the Spirit, and I will reap life, kingdom
of God, everlasting life.
Am I sowing to the flesh or the spirit? Where is your head? Where
are your thoughts? With God or apart from God?
8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption,
but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting
life.
C. Sowing Good Works v9
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season
we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Does the world need some good works? Even just to counteract all
the evil works, and negligence.
Good = fulfills the purpose for which it was created. In our lives,
look for opportunities to do good things for people, all people.
We demonstrate the nature of God, who is good to us, and we sow
good seed, which will produce a great harvest of goodness.
D. Sowing to Help Fellow Christians v10
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially
to those who are of the household of faith.
We do good to all, but especially to our brothers and sisters in
Christ. Why?
1. We know each other, our needs
2. We are in covenant and community with each other
3. Sometimes Christians receive less blessing from the world, persecution.
In that case, we need to bless each other.
Not just giving to needs, but trading, using each other’s talents
and services. Church directory lists businesses. BTW, be completely
honorable in business, otherwise you are not “doing good”,
sowing seeds of goodness. You might be sowing to the flesh and of
that reap corruption, things start falling apart.
III. The Harvest What is the harvest when we sow to:
A. The Ministry - continued teaching of the Word, personal financial
blessing
B. The Spirit - fellowship with God, mind of Christ, life is sound,
not falling apart, the fruit of the Spirit, inherit the Kingdom
of God, everlasting life
C. Good Works - we shall reap good works, see goodness spread in
the world
D. The Household of Faith - a network of blessing
Conclusions 6 Let him who is taught the Word share in all good things
with him who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for
whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to
his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to
the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us
not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap
if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let
us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household
of faith.
Pastor Steve Boggan
Living Waters Christian Fellowship
Heritage Ranch by Lake Nacimiento, CA
Website - livingwaters.cc
